, 1887-05-15
SCENES IN PALESTINE.
Some of the Things Observed by
Mr.. Dare
During His Recent Trip to the Holy
Land.

DNAN ""o Wv ohAN w
viewed by THE LEADER reporter yester-
day regarding his recent visit to Jerusa-
lem and other places of interest in Pales-
tine. Without undertaking to describe
in detail all that was seen in the Holy
Land, MIR. Dare stated that when he and
Mrs. Dare first landed at Joppa. on the
Palestine coast, they intended to have
first gone northward to Damascus, but
there had been such a heavy fall of snow
in the Lebanon mountains that they gave
up the idea and concluded to go at once
to Jerusalem. The road from Joppa to
Jerusalem. never very good, was some
what better than usual when they passed
over it, from the fact that in anticipation
of a visit from the son of the king of
Italy, the authorities in hat country were
putting the road in order, and at one
point they passed a party of 500 men
at work for that purpose. Some distance
from JopDa the travellers passed over the
"Plains of Sharon" where once grew
the Rose of Sharon mentioned in bib
lical history. Here the plain was fairly
carpeted with the most beautiful red roses
they had ever seen, though of a small
size and very fragile. Beyond the plains
they came to the Valley of Joshua"
where the old prophet, with the assistance
of others, held un his hands. the sun and
moon standing still while the Israelites
battled with their foes and finally pre-
vailed. After stopping over night at a
little Arab town called Ranley, they
passed on, and before they came to the
mountains, arrived at the point where
still stands. almost intact. the old stone
building, from the top of which Simon,
the Tanner" saw the vision of angels.
Mr.. Dare states that even now the ruins
of what are claimed to be those of the
old tannery are still there.
At Jerusalem Mr. and Mrs. Dare visit
ed every point of interest in the Holy
City, and especially the point where the
crucifixion of the Savior occurred. There
are two points at Jerusalem where it is
claimed that the crucifxion took place,
one on the present site of the Church
of the Holy Sepulchre," which stands on
what in biblical times was known as the
Mount of Olives, which. by the way, is
now within the walls Of the city, and the
other some little distance further east and
outside of the city altogether. Dean
Stanley and tine best authorities say that
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands
upon the ground where the scene at the
cross and that at the sepulchre occurred.
Into this enormo edifce Mr.. and Mrs.
Dare went several times. The point in
the building where the cross stood and
also the place of the sepulchre are both
indicated and can be readily seen by all
visitors, They went down to Bethlehem
(six miles,, where Christ was born. The
stable within the cave where the Savior
first saw the light of day is there, and
they have now. in order to indicate the
exact spot, fixed a white stone IN the
shape of u star in the narrow pavement
in front of the place. They also visited
the Dead sea, which is about seven miles
from Bethlehem. but according to Mr..
Dare the statement that has been SO often
made that this sheet of water could be
seen from Bethlehem itself is incorrect.
From a low mountain close by the Dead
sea is plainly in sight. A visit to Jericho,
where the Savior was babtized by John.
was also made, and, in fact, many other
points in the Holy Land, which must be
passed over at present.
Mr.. Dare states that standing at almost
any point in Jerusalem, one can see
nearly the whole of Palestine, and he was
surprised at its limited area, but to one
accustomed to look around here in the
Rocky mountain region, it must necessar-
lily seem small. An effort is beng made
to induce Mr.. Dare to relate at the Pres
byterian church this evening what he saw
in the Holy Land, and it is hoped that he
will consent to do so.